Venetian blind



J. w. DUNN VENETIAN BLIND Filed Sept. 20/ 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTOR. W WM Jan. 7, 1947.

a 4 nfinfia n aa a a z a E E QEEQEEEWE FFEPFFEFFFFFEFEFFFMFFEE? G 40. 7L .1 r WW Patented Jan. 7, 1947 nsist UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEVENETIAN BLIND John William Dunn, Alhambra, Calif.

Application September 20, 1945, Serial No. 617,568

15 Claims. 1

My present invention involves novel improvements in means for mountingVenetian blinds upon window-s, doors, or the like, where such blinds arecustomarily employed. A problem involved in the use and operation ofVenetian blinds heretofore lies in the fact that previous to myinvention it has been customary to support the Venetian blind inrelation to the window or door by mourting means carried by the windowor door, which means is stationary relatively to the latter. TheVenetian blind comprises, ordinarily, a series of vertically arrangedslat-s capable of assuming horizontal or tilted positions, and the slatsare slightly spaced from the window when horizontally disposed. Underthese conditions, when the slats are tilted or collapsed, they necesarily assume positions a greater distance from the window th n when theslats are in their horizontal positions.

The foregoing action of slat movements makes for a special disadvantagein the operation of closing the bind, the closed position of the slatsordinarily being that in Which they are inclined upwardly and inwardlyfrom the window. Disposing the slats in such inclined closed positionsresults virtually in such movement of the slats that cracks between thesides of the window and the ends of the blind slats are created, throughwhich visibility may be had.

Now it is the primary object of my invention to devise a means forsupporting a Venetian blind upon a window or door, or other support,which is to carry the same, in such a manner that the tilting of theblind slats to their closed positions inclining upwardly and inwardlyfrom the window will effect a bodily movement of the entire blind unitupon its supporting means to carry said unit in the direction of ortoward the window to a position such that when the blind is closed, itis sufficiently close to the window as With the above objects in view, Ihave provided as the main feature of my invention, in combination withthe window and blind slat unit, novel bracket mounting means forsupporting the said unit on the frame of the window, door, or

7 similar support, wh ch bracket means is preferably of the typeutilizing what is known in the Venetian blind art today as a worm geartilter. The worm gear tilting mechanism of the bracket supporting meansfor the blind unit is of novel design in that in the operation of thetilter the tilt bar which is directly engaged with the tilter andbracket supporting means, and from which tilt bar the blind slats areusually hung by means of tapes, is bodily shifted outwardly toward thewindow and inwardly from the window incident to the tilting of said tiltbar for the corresponding tilting adjustment of the slats of the blindto assume downwardly and outwardly inclined closed positions, andthereafter assume horizontal or inwardly and downwardly inclinedpositions, respectively. In this manner, according to the premisesconcerning the object of my invention, I am able to utilize the tiltingmechanism to bodily shift the blind slat unit outwardly for fullyclosing the blind when the slats are tilted properly for such purpose,to the extent of eliminating the vision opening or cracks between theends of the slats and window, said tilting means acting to effectreverse bodily movement on the opening of the blind slats to admitlight, at which time the forming of the vision openings or cracks at theend of the blind is immaterial.

In the operation of my Venetian blind construction it will be understoodthat the action of the bodily movement of the blind slat unit re-'ferred to is incident to the normal operations of the tilting mechanism.

Another object of my invention has been to construct a tilting bracketwhich may be made of either die castings or stampings which require noexpensive machine work.

Another advantage or" my tilting bracket con- 1 struction is that thesame may be quickly and easily attached to any window jamb withoutadjustment.

A full understanding of my invention will be had upon reference to thefollowing description and tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figurel is a vertical sectional view of a window equipped with a Venetianblind supported by the bracket means and worm tilting devices of mypresent invention, the adjustment of the blind being shown with theslats horizontal or open.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the position of theblind unit with its slats closed, at which time the unit is at itsoutward limit of bodily movement on the window frame.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the worm tilter bracket forming a partof my Venetian blind operating mechanism.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the construction of Figure 3and taken about on the line 4-4 of the latter.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 1, but showing the construction ofthe supporting bracket used at the side of the window opposite the wormtilter bracket.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken about on the line 66 ofFigure 4.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of the window framelooking toward the same from the inner side thereof and showing thegeneral arrangement of the Venetian blind and operating features.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figures 1and 2, A designates the frame of a window on the sides or jambs ofwhich, near the top of the window, are attached certain bracket means ofmy invention to be hereinafter set forth. The Venetian blind shown inposition on the window frame A is generally designated as B and iscomprised of the usual slats supported by tapes C on the tilt bar Dwhich is carried directly on the bracket means above referred to. Inregard to the above features of construction, it may be noted that theyare generally conventional in that the blind unit B composed of the tiltbar D, and the tapes, and supported slats, are those commonly in usetoday.

Bracket means of my invention now to be set forth are employed formounting the ends of the tilt bar upon the window frame A in such amanner as to permit of the bodily movement of the blind unit toward andfrom the window for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

Describin the bracket means of my invention, I first refer to Figures 1and 2 which show a tilting bracket constructed in accordance with myinvention, the same comprising a plate I which is fastened to one sideor jamb of the window frame A by means of screws passing through theholes 2.

A bracket 3 is riveted, welded, or otherwise affixed to the plate I andforms the journal for the worm 4. The worm 4 has a, shaft 5 upon whichis positioned a pulley wheel 6. This pulley wheel is of the usualconstruction well known in the art and carries a cord I for rotating theworm 4. The usual guide 8 for retaining the cord I in place is provided.A bracket 9 riveted or otherwise affixed to the plate I has a slot IDfor the reception of the worm gear I I. The worm gear I I is free tomove back and forth in the slot IE3. To attach the worm gear II to thebracket 9, the gear has a boss I2 on its rear surface which is circularin shape and has a diameter substantially that of the width of the slotII), so that the gear II may rotate on the boss I2 in the slot II Aprojection I 3 on the boss I2 engages the rear side of the bracket 9while the gear II engages the front side of the bracket 9 to maintainthe gear I I in rotating position in the slot III. The slot IiI hasgrooves I4 and I5 on its lower side for engaging the pins I 6 and 29 onthe rear surface of the gear II. The two pins I6 on the gear II arespaced to-match the grooves I 4 and I5 so that when the gear is rotatedin the slot III until the pin I 6 enters the grooves I4, the gear is atthe front end of the slot III, and when the pin enters the groove I 5,the gear is in the rear end of the slot III. The teeth ll of the gear II mesh with the thread I8 of the worm 4.

In the operation of this device, when the worm 4 is rotated it causesthe teeth I! to follow the thread I8, causing a rotation of the gear II, but as the pin I6, as shown in the drawings, is in the slot I4,rotation of the gear will cause the gear to rotate about the pin I6until pin 20 engages the groove I5. It is thus seen that the gear IIwill travel back and forth in the slot III as the worm 4 is rotated.

In Figure 5 is shown the follower which supports the opposite end'of thetilt bar D. The tilt bar is supported between the follower and thetilting mechanism of Figures 3 and 4 by means of a square rod or pintlemember atone end of the bar D which enters the square hole 2I in thegear II, and a fiat bar pintle member at the other end of bar D entersthe groove 22 in the follower 23. The tilt bar D is thus supported inthe square hole 2I and the slot 22 by the square rod and flat baremerging from the ends of the tilt bar. The follower mechanism issubstantially the same as the mechanism for the gear I I except that itdoes not require a worm gear or teeth on it. The entire followercomprises a plate 24 on which is attached a bracket 25 having a slot 26of the same size and dimensions as the slot ID from which emerg thegrooves 21 and 28 which are substantially identical in position and sizewith the grooves I4 and I5. The traveler 23 has a boss and projection tomaintain it in the slot 26 similar to the boss I2 and projection I3 andit has pins 29 and 36 for engaging the grooves 21 and 28 identical withthe pins I6 and 20. The follower 23, of course, follows the samemovement as the gear I I, as the tilting bar naturally forces it to movein the same manner.

In mounting a Venetian blind in my tilting bracket, the blind issupported by engagement of its tilt bar with the members II and 23 ofthe brackets I and 24 respectively, so that when the blind is closedwith the slats inclined downwardly into the room,'the gear II is inposition as shown in Figure 1, i. e., at the front or inner end of theslot I 0. When the blind is wide open, the gear II is in mid-positionwith the pins I6 and 20, both just entering their grooves I4 and I5.When the blind is closed with the slats inclined upwardly into the room,the gear II is at the back or outer end (nearest the window) of the slotIII.

Other brackets now in use hold the entire blind at all times in whatwould correspond to the mid-position of the slot II), thus spacing theblind away from the window. The blind cannot be moved closer to thewindow by merely decreasing the distance that it is hung, as then theblind would strike the window when it is open.

When my bracket is used and the blind is placed in the upwardly closedposition, it moves the blind in against the window. However, the blindcan be freely rotated as movement to open the blind spaces the blindaway from the window.

0 While I have described the embodiments of my invention, I am notlimited to any of the details herein set forth except as described inthe appended claims.

My invention contemplates broadly the provision of means to bodilyadjust a Venetian blind toward and from the window opening with which itis associated, and, secondarily, to perform such adjustment of the blindin said manner coincident with tilting of the slats thereof.

70, This application is a continuation-in-part of my pending applicationfor patent, Serial No. 581,089, filed March 5, 1945.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination, a window, a window frame, a Venetian blind comprisingtiltable slats, supporting means for mounting the blind upon the windowframe, and means on the supporting means for tilting the slats andsimultaneously bodily moving the blind to vary the distance thereofrelatively to the window.

2. In combination, a window, a window frame, a Venetian blind comprisingtiltable slats, supporting means for mounting the blind upon the windowframe, and means on the supporting means for tilting the slats andsimultaneously bodily moving the blind to shift same toward and from thewindow.

1'3. In combination, a window, a window frame, a Venetian blindcomprising tiltable slats, supporting means for mounting the blind uponthe window frame, and means for tilting the slats in one direction andsimultaneously shifting the blind relatively to the window, and tiltingthe slats in an opposite direction and simultaneously shifting the blindbodily but in an opposite direction to its bodily movement firstmentioned.

4. In combination, a window, a window frame, a Venetian blind comprisingtiltable slats, supporting means for mounting the blind upon the windowframe, tilting mechanism for oppositely tilting the slats relative tothe window and including parts for at the same time moving the blindbodily on its mounting means toward the window on tilting of the slatsat one angle, and moving the blind bodily, oppositely to said firstmentioned bodily movement, on tilting the slats at an opposite angle.

5. In combination, a window frame, Venetian blind supporting bracketsattached to opposite sides of a window frame, a window in the frame, aVenetian blind comprising a tilt bar, and tiltable slats carriedthereby, devices coacting with the brackets to support the tilt bar fortilting, and means to operate said devices to carry the blind toward andfrom the window incident to tilting of the slats.

6. In combination, a window frame, Venetian blind supporting bracketsattached to opposite sides of a window frame, a window in the frame, aVenetian blind comprising a tilt bar and tiltable slats carried thereby,devices coacting with the brackets to support the tilt bar for tilting,and means to operate said devices to tilt the slats at one angle andmove the blind bodily toward the window, and tilt the slats at anopposite angle and move the blind bodily away from the window.

'7. In combination, a window frame, Venetian blind supporting bracketsattached to opposite sides of a window frame, a window in the frame, aVenetian blind comprising a tilt bar and tiltable slats carried thereby,rotating devices coacting with the brackets to support the tilt bar fortilting, and means to operate said devices to tilt the tilt bar andslats, said brackets formed with parts engaging the said devices to movethem transversely to the window on rotation thereof, thereby to shiftthe blind bodily relatively to the window.

8. In combination, a window, a window frame, a Venetian blind comprisingtiltable slats, supporting means for mounting the blind upon the windowframe, and means to shift the blind bodily to adjusted positions towardand away from the window.

9. The combination of parts of claim 8, in which the last means ismanual.

10. In combination, a window, a window frame, a Venetian blindcomprising tiltable slats, supporting means for mounting the blind uponthe window frame, and means to shift the blind bodily to adjustedpositions toward and away from the window and simultaneously tilt theslats of the blind.

11. In combination, a window, a window frame, a Venetian blindcomprising tiltable slats, supporting means for mounting the blind uponthe window frame, and means to shift the blind bodily to adjustedpositions toward and away from the window and simultaneously tilt theslats 0f the blind upwardly and inwardly relatively to the window as theblind shifts toward the latter, and to horizontal and then to downwardlyand inwardly inclined positions as the blind moves away from the window.

12. In a tilting mechanism for a Venetian blind, a bracket, a wormjournaled on said bracket, and a gear meshing with said worm, said gearbeing carried by said bracket by means facilitating lateral movement ofsaid gear in said bracket.

13. In a tilting mechanism for a Venetian blind, a bracket, a wormjournaled on said bracket, a slot in said bracket, and a gear meshingwith said worm and movably retained in said slot.

14. In a tilting mechanism for a Venetian blind, a bracket, a wormjournaled on said bracket, a slot in said bracket, a gear meshing withsaid worm and movably retained in said slot, and means for connectingthe tilting bar of a Venetian blind to said gear.

15. In a tilting mechanism for a Venetian blind, a bracket, a wormjournaled on said bracket, a slot in said bracket, a gear meshing withsaid worm and movably retained in said slot, means for connecting thetilting bar of a Venetian blind to said gear, a follower substantiallyidentical with said gear and carried in a bracket in the same manner assaid gear for supporting the other end of said tilting bar, and meansfor attaching said tilting bar to said follower.

JOHN WILLIAM DUNN.

